Abstract. A synthetic stalagmite δ18O record for the Bunker Cave
(51° N, 7° E) is constructed using a combined
climate–stalagmite modelling approach where we combine an atmospheric
circulation model equipped with water isotopes and a model simulating
stalagmite calcite δ18O values. Mixing processes in the soil
and karst above the cave represent a natural low-pass filter of the
speleothem climate archive. Stalagmite δ18O values at Bunker
Cave lag the regional surface climate by 3–4 yr. The power spectrum of
the simulated speleothem calcite δ18O record has a pronounced
peak at quasi-decadal time scale, which is associated with a large-scale
climate variability pattern in the North Atlantic. Our modelling study
suggests that stalagmite records from Bunker Cave are representative for
large-scale teleconnections and can be used to obtain information about the
North Atlantic and its decadal variability.